Marilyn

The radio announced that she was dead As flatly as a Stock Exchange report. My heart turned satin and began to shred And leaked out doom and beauty. In the court Of Heaven Gabriel reached up to wipe God’s eye and Jesus hid his face behind The bloodied robe of Raphael. A ripe, Rich laughter echoed up from Hell and blind Men felt nothing. On the radio, death Was just another stretch of sound and things Went on as usual. I found that breath Was granular and gasped for angels’ wings. A loss inside me, cancerous and whole, Came hardened fully, deep inside my soul.